Assembly and system for pumping a volume of fluid through a body of water

Abstract

An assembly and system for pumping a volume of fluid over a body of water, comprising a shell ( 12 ) defining a volumetric space within a vessel ( 10 ) in which air is extractible from and introducible into, an opening ( 18 ) to allow air to be extracted from and supplied into the vessel ( 10 ) to allow fluid to be drawn in and expelled from the vessel ( 10 ), a first valve ( 16 a ) and a second valve ( 16 b ) to permit and restrict fluid entering and exiting the vessel ( 10 ) and a pump ( 20 ) to extract and introduce air from and into the vessel ( 10 ) to cause fluid to be drawn into and expelled out of the vessel ( 10 ). The vessel ( 10 ) floats in the body of water.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A system for pumping a volume of water from a source of water to a reservoir wherein the system comprises:
 a pipeline ( 30 ) in fluid connection with the source of water and the reservoir and wherein a portion of the pipeline ( 30 ) passes through a body of water;   at least one vessel ( 10 ) disposed along and in fluid connection with the portion of the pipeline ( 30 ) passing through the body of water wherein the vessel ( 10 ) is floatable in the body of water and wherein air and water is extractible from and introducible into the vessel ( 10 ) and wherein the vessel ( 10 ) comprises:   a shell ( 12 ) defining a volumetric space within the vessel ( 10 ) in which air is extractible from and introducible into;   an opening ( 18 ) to allow air to be extracted from the vessel ( 10 ) to cause pressure in the vessel ( 10 ) to be lower than air pressure external to the vessel ( 10 ) to allow water to be drawn into the vessel ( 10 ) and air to be supplied into the vessel ( 10 ) to cause pressure in the vessel ( 10 ) to be higher than air pressure external to the vessel ( 10 ) to allow water to be expelled out of the vessel ( 10 );   a first valve ( 16   a ) to permit water to enter the vessel ( 10 ) when air is extracted from the vessel ( 10 ) and to restrict water from exiting the vessel ( 10 ) when air is introduced into the vessel ( 10 );   a second valve ( 16   b ) to restrict water from entering the vessel ( 10 ) when air is extracted from the vessel ( 10 ) and to permit water to exit the vessel ( 10 ) when air is introduced into the vessel ( 10 ); and   a pump ( 20 ) to extract and introduce air from and into the vessel ( 10 );   wherein:   the pump ( 20 ) pumps air into the vessel ( 10 ) to create high air pressure in the vessel ( 10 ) to cause water to be expelled out of the vessel ( 10 ) and pumps air out of the vessel ( 10 ) to cause water to be drawn into the vessel ( 10 ); and   the vessel ( 10 ) sinks into the body of water as water enters the vessel ( 10 ) and rises within the body of water as water exits the vessel ( 10 ) to allow pressure differences caused by air being removed from the vessel ( 10 ) to draw water into the vessel ( 10 ) and air supplied into the vessel ( 10 ) to expel water from the vessel ( 10 ).   
     
     
         16 . The system as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the vessel ( 10 ) further comprises a bladder ( 14 ) fillable with water wherein the bladder ( 14 ) expands to draw in water and contracts to expel water. 
     
     
         17 . The system as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the first valve ( 16   a ) permits water to enter the bladder ( 14 ) when the bladder ( 14 ) expands and restricts water from exiting the bladder ( 14 ) when the bladder ( 14 ) contracts. 
     
     
         18 . The system as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the second valve ( 16   b ) restricts water from entering the bladder ( 14 ) when the bladder ( 14 ) expands and permits water to exit the bladder ( 14 ) when the bladder ( 14 ) contracts. 
     
     
         19 . The system as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the pump ( 20 ) pumps air into the vessel ( 10 ) to cause the bladder ( 14 ) to contract and pumps air out of the vessel ( 10 ) to cause the bladder ( 14 ) to expand. 
     
     
         20 . The system as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the vessel ( 10 ) is disposed in a spherical, ellipsoidal or cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         21 . The system as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the pump ( 20 ) is connected to the vessel ( 10 ) through the opening ( 18 ). 
     
     
         22 . The system as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the pump ( 20 ) is housed at upper quadrant of the vessel ( 10 ). 
     
     
         23 . The system as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising an intermediate reservoir ( 400 ) connectible to the pipeline ( 30 ) and in the body of water, wherein the intermediate reservoir ( 400 ) is fillable with water. 
     
     
         24 . The system as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein a pressure difference of less than 100000 Pa between air pressure within the vessel ( 10 ) and air pressure outside the vessel ( 10 ) causes water to be drawn into the vessel ( 10 ). 
     
     
         25 . A system for pumping a volume of water from a source of water to a reservoir, comprising:
 a flexible pipeline ( 30 ) in fluid connection with the source of water and the reservoir and wherein a portion of the pipeline ( 30 ) passes through a body of water;   a first vessel ( 80 ) disposed along and is in fluid connection with the portion of the pipeline ( 30 ) passing through the body of water and wherein the first vessel ( 80 ) is floatable in the body of water and further comprises a first entry valve ( 82 ) which permits entry of water into the first vessel ( 80 ) and a first exit valve ( 84 ) which permits exit of water out of the first vessel ( 80 );   a second vessel ( 90 ) disposed along and is in fluid connection with the portion of the pipeline ( 30 ) passing through the body of water and wherein the second vessel ( 90 ) is floatable in the body of water and further comprises a second entry valve ( 92 ) which permits entry of water into the second vessel ( 90 ) and a second exit valve ( 94 ) which permits exit of water out of the second vessel ( 90 ); and   a pump ( 20 ) to transfer air from the first vessel ( 80 ) to the second vessel ( 90 ) or from the second vessel ( 90 ) to the first vessel ( 80 );   wherein:   the pump ( 20 ) transfers air from the first vessel ( 80 ) into the second vessel ( 90 ) to cause pressure in the first vessel ( 80 ) to be lower than air pressure external to the first vessel ( 80 ) and cause pressure in the second vessel ( 90 ) to be higher than air pressure external to the second vessel ( 90 ) to cause water to be drawn into the first vessel ( 80 ) through the first entry valve ( 82 ) and water to be expelled from the second vessel ( 90 ) through the second exit valve ( 94 );   the pump ( 20 ) transfers air from the second vessel ( 90 ) into the first vessel ( 80 ) to cause pressure in the second vessel ( 90 ) to be lower than air pressure external to the second vessel ( 90 ) and cause pressure in the first vessel ( 80 ) to be higher than air pressure external to the first vessel ( 80 ) to cause water to be drawn into the second vessel ( 90 ) through the second entry valve ( 92 ) and water to be expelled from the first vessel ( 80 ) through the first exit valve ( 84 ); and   the first vessel ( 80 ) sinks deeper into the body of water while the second vessel ( 90 ) rises within the body of water as water enters the first vessel ( 80 ) while exiting the second vessel ( 90 ) and the first vessel ( 80 ) rises within the body of water while the second vessel ( 90 ) sinks deeper into the body of water as water exits the first vessel ( 80 ) while entering the second vessel ( 90 ).   
     
     
         26 . The system as claimed in  claim 25 , further comprising a bladder located in the first vessel ( 80 ) and the second vessel ( 90 ) respectively wherein:
 the first entry valve ( 82 ) permits entry of water into the bladder housed within the first vessel ( 80 ) and the first exit valve ( 84 ) permits exit of water out of the bladder in the first vessel ( 80 );   the second entry valve ( 92 ) which permits entry of water into the bladder housed within the second vessel ( 90 ) and the second exit valve ( 94 ) permits exit of water out of the bladder in the second vessel ( 90 );   the pump ( 20 ) transfers air from the first vessel ( 80 ) into the second vessel ( 90 ) to cause water to be drawn into the bladder housed in the first vessel ( 80 ) through the first entry valve ( 82 ) and water to be expelled from the bladder housed in the second vessel ( 90 ) through the second exit valve ( 94 ) and wherein the pump ( 20 ) transfers air from the second vessel ( 90 ) into the first vessel ( 80 ) to cause water to be drawn into the bladder housed in the second vessel ( 90 ) through the second entry valve ( 92 ) and water to be expelled from the bladder housed in the first vessel ( 80 ) through the first exit valve ( 84 ).   
     
     
         27 . The system as claimed in  claim 25 , further comprising an intermediate reservoir ( 400 ) connectible to the pipeline ( 30 ) and in the body of water, wherein the intermediate reservoir ( 400 ) is fillable with water. 
     
     
         28 . The system as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the intermediate reservoir ( 400 ) is supplied or emptied by a first vessel ( 80 ) or second vessel ( 90 ) connected to the intermediate reservoir ( 400 ) through the pipeline ( 30 ).